SHOULD I BUY A BMW 1150 GS and SELL MY AT?

[magwa]

THIS IS AN UPDATE I NOW HAVE A BM AND AN AFRICA TWIN.....Lucky Me
9th August 2009

I have a dilema.
I Have had a cherished a 33k RD07 AT for near three years. 'M'reg 1995
A GREEN ONE!.
Its got all the Rematec alloy bits/Remus Titanium oval exhaust/givi luggage/tank bag and covers/flip screen/dash board conversion (ebay special!)etc...
Its mint but I fancy a BMW 1150GS ( Adventurer).
I have just been to the IOM to see the Manx GP.......

Now I'm not so sure about my possible change!

At 6'02" tall 15 stone ( about 17 stone with all the leathers/boots/helmet etc) 32" inside leg and 50yrs young ( really only 17)

The AT suits me but two up with wife on board its a bit of a struggle.

Any Ideas, I love the AT but hate the Valadero the AT replacement ( tried it its very boring to ride and damned ugly.)

KTM is to comp orientated

The BMW is the only one I am considering!

Any help / comments? :P

THIS IS AN UPDATE I NOW HAVE A BM AND AN AFRICA TWIN.....Lucky Me
9th August 2009

[cabbage2404]

It's completely and entirely up to you, best try a decent test ride to see if it suits you, but people do say BM's grow on you rather than feeling at home with it straight away. As a two up option, a GS would be hard to beat.

[magwa]

Thank you,
I have owned three previous BM's, ( road bikes) Three Triumphs ( Daytona, Trophy, Tiger Hinkley versions) and am set to retire in 2007 on superannuation
I am used to the strange gear change on the BM's ( ridden Police ones for years!) but only this year after 30yrs did the wife commit to being a pillion!
Hence the dilema..........

[GSPD750]

but only this year after 30yrs did the wife commit to being a pillion!
Hence the dilema....

Happy wife=Happy Bikers=Happy Home
.....buy the GS

[barftone]

Keep the AT and buy a cheap tourer aka Kawa GTR1000....and a track day sports bike.........and a trials bike............and a trail bike.............................................. ...............Doh!

[peterb]

Would anyones opinion make a difference? You have probobly already made up your mind , the fun is not in the model but riding a bike. If its a big trailie who cares !

[Shep]

I rode the standard GS1200 and i liked it thought it was a good bike, i then rode the GS1200 Adventure which was seriously terrible, appalingly bad.

So i would make certain that you test ride the GS1150 Adventure and make certain that it is for you. Maybe the GS1150 Adventure is better but i would really make certain, as there is no way that a GS1200 Adventure is better than an Africa Twin.

With the long travel suspension and high unsprung weight, when you hit a bump the rear shock cannot cope, and you end up pogoing down the rode with a realy bad ride quality, it is also very vague feeling

[Chad]

if you go for the 1150 make sureits not the adventure because the standard GS is a better rounded bike then you can allways add the adv fancy bits along the way but i would advise a good test ride because the wheelie's take some getting used to

[magwa]

Thanks Lads
As for keeping the AT well it goes with a BSA M20, A Porsche RS60 Spyder ( 1960 replica really a VW Beetle based kit car OK) a Landrover( mine), A Smart car(wife's) , A Renault Clio and A Fiat Sinquenta ( last two are the Kids cars) :P

So I'm Not a Dad I'm a fleet manager.


I'm not adverse to taking other well heeled advice.

So thank you for the input so far

I really want to keep the AT but.....theres only so much room in that 'thar' garage.

The AT can stay for now and I will make the choice in march 2007 ( on retirement) and having just travelled approx 500miles to/ around/from the IOM I decided I really love the AT.

Thanks again

[DaveS]

Well I've obviously just made that very jump.
I wouldn't listen to what others to say other than to write down why you like the AT and why you don't and do the same for the other possibles.
I did and the Beemer just won, not by a mile, but the things that are important to me now, more road work, more pillion comfort won.
So far very impressed with my choice.